COMMUNITY COVENANT
for the Staff and Students of the Church of Ireland Theological College

As agreed by students and staff members at a meeting held on 22 October 2001

I Why a covenant?
As people exercising or preparing for Christian leadership, the language of covenant, as taken from Holy Scripture, leads us to establish and commit ourselves to reasonable expectations for godly relationships within this community. And our relationships do require godly boundaries. For while all of us come here voluntarily, most of us encounter views, practices and people that are very different from our previous experiences, and which, at times, arouse emotional responses that can lead us away from Christian standards.
This covenant is for clarifying day-to-day expectations for staff and students in the college, for inviting each student and staff to commit themselves to these norms, and for establishing pastoral, administrative and communal responses, on those occasions when relationships break down within the college.
This covenant is not for dealing with serious matters of abuse, harassment, etc. Such concerns are both pastoral and legal and are dealt with in the document Regulations and Code of Behaviour.
Each student and staff member is asked to read and sign this covenant as a sign of their intention to live in love and peace in this community. If, for any reason, someone feels that they are not able to sign this covenant a letter of detailed explanation will need to be written to the Principal. Depending on the reasons cited, the Principal may then determine to notify the ordinand's bishop.
As a general rule, communication covers all sins. The conduct envisaged for an ordained priest as set our in the Ordinal should be the standard for everyone who is ordained or who intends to proceed to ordination

II. Life in these halls
When adults suddenly find themselves in small quarters and in close proximity to others, several challenges emerge. Students and staff are asked to commit themselves to:
a) Being conscious of the sound needs of others, keeping music and conversation levels reasonable, and responding positively when asked by a neighbour to turn down.
b) Being conscious of the space needs others, getting a sense of a person's space boundaries and honouring them (the average person is comfortable with 3 feet)
c) Being conscious that it is difficult for some to live in proximity with those of a different gender. Each floor is asked to decide what is best for the use of their bathrooms, and each student and staff is asked to honour that decision Furthermore, an appropriate code of dress should be observed on the accommodation block at all times
d) Being conscious that alcohol should not be taken in excess. Overindulgence in the college may be indicative of a larger addictions problem and certainly damages the image of our community in the larger church.
e) Being conscious that it is always better to talk to a person with whom we have a conflict than to talk about them.
f) Being conscious that when a person is distressed, to give them the space they need
g) Being conscious of the esteem and affection in which the college is held by faithful members of our church, all actions tending to bring it into disrepute or which may cause offence to others must be avoided;
h) Respecting college property, and making good any loss or damage wilfully caused.

III. Life in the Chapel
When adults come from the norms of their home parish/diocese, and join the worshipping community of the college, certain challenges emerge. Students and staff are asked to commit to:
a) Worshipping in the chapel daily, with a goal of attending two services a day.
b) Attending the Wednesday community Eucharist without fail, or receiving permission from the Principal or Chaplain when one cannot attend.
c) Honouring worship practices that differ from one's own norms, and conversing with those whose practices are different as a means of gaining understanding and appreciation
d) Honouring the norms for leading worship in the chapel as described in the Liturgical Guidelines booklet.
e) Honouring the chapel space as a place of prayer, and not a place for words or actions, which are intended to make statements and/or upset or insult people.

IV. Life in the Lecture Hall
When adults enter the theological college, many are returning to college after years away from academic life, while others have very recently left university. Despite these considerable differences, all students are asked to commit themselves to:
a) Attending all lectures except when health, emergency or other extenuating circumstances make it impossible.
b) Sending apologies to the lecturer, beforehand if possible, in the event that one cannot attend.
c) Speaking respectfully to lecturers/students even when in strong disagreement with them.
d) In so far as it is understood that the curacy rounds are not an acceptable excuse for missing a lecture, that permission to be absent may be sought should circumstances require it.
e) Committing to turning in all assignments on time and, when necessary, to ask permission from a lecturer regarding an extension and accepting their response (see essay regulations in the student handbook).
f) Observing ethical academic standards by abstaining from cheating or plagiarism

V. Life between students and students and between students and staff
In what is sometimes a chaotic swirl of activity around the college, communication regarding college responsibilities becomes a challenge for all concerned. The simple yet endlessly challenging answer is to constantly improve communication channels. To further this end, staff and students alike are asked to commit themselves to:
a) Timely notification of events or needs relating to them, except in special circumstances. The staff is asked to commit to notifying students of a required mailing no less than one week in advance and of a required day/weekend no less than one month in advance. All are responsible for checking the notice board regularly for such notices, and are expected to be aware that some meetings/days/events are expected of all students, even bearing in mind that some have the additional sacrifice of being away from their families.
b) Communicating with the appropriate person(s) regarding matters on which they remain unclear. Please talk with, not about, someone.
c) Attending all events they have either signed up for or that are required events they have not been excused from. All are asked to understand that they will be charged for any meals, rooms, etc that were booked for them but not utilized
d) Receiving permission from the Principal when one must be away from college
e) Signing up for meals at the appropriate times.
f) Requesting permission from the Principal before inviting guest speakers to address study groups.
g) Checking the college diary before booking an event.
h) Avoidance of any harassment or exclusivity calculated to cause distress to any member of the college community, or encouraging others to do the same

Accountability
Serious or persistent breaches of this covenant may result in the following responses.
a) In the case of a student, he or she may be called for a clarification meeting with a member of staff, with appropriate consequences such as apologies to be carried out as quickly as possible.
b) If need be, the Principal may be notified.
c) If need be, the student's sponsoring Bishop may be notified.
d) If any offence involves a group of students, the Principal and/or staff may deal with it as a group offence, and if an offence has a negative impact on the rest of the community a meeting of the ordinand student body and staff may be summoned to address it.
e) In the case of a staff member other than the Principal, the student should first bring the offence to the attention of the staff member, with appropriate consequences such as apologies to be carried out as quickly as possible
f) If that is not possible, the student should notify the Principal.
g) If the concern is with or involves an unresolved issue with the Principal, the student should notify the Episcopal Visitor or any bishop deputed by the Episcopal Visitor.
h) In all cases, a third party may be invited to be present if the parties are agreeable.

VI) Conclusion
This covenant is not intended to take any run or dynamism out of college life, it is intended to help a community of diverse Christian people from all corners of this island prepare for ordained life in relative peace Some of the issues addressed stem from years of tension, and are attempts to correct an imbalance in our communal life Some are simple courtesies. All boil down to respectful and timely communication. Failure to live within this covenant will call for measures of accountability following the channels listed above, and with consequences that are intended to match the offence. Such occasions are expected to be very rare, but it has been felt that firmer boundaries need to be drawn. Thank you for your commitment to this Christian community.